Artificial leg



(N0 Model.)

W. BARTLETT.

ARTIFICIAL LEG,

Patented June 22, 1886.

JwevzZZw DANIEL \V. BARTLETT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF Q TO HERMANN IIAUSSMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,154, dated June 22,1886.

Application filed February 2, 1886. Serial No. 100,659. (No model T0 aZZwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. BARTLETT, a citizen of the United States,residing in Kansas City, county of Jackson, and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to improvements in artificial limbs in whichmechanical means are employed for simulating the action of a natural toeand ankle joint. Prior to my in vention these joints have been soconstructed as to leave open or working joints between the members, or,if covered by a wooden or metallic shield, the moving parts of sucheovering would bite or pinch the stocking or shoe of the wearer betweenthem, and this was particularly the case with such devices as providedfor a lateral movement between the foot and leg portions thereof.

The prime object of this invention is to combine with an artificial limba rubber covering or cushion, so arranged as to cover or conceal thejoints between the members thereof, and at the same time permit, whileit assists in, the action of thejoint. Another object is to produce anartificial limb having joints or connections between its members, theaction of which shall so closely simulate that of the natural joint asto permit a movement be tween the foot and leg portions in anydirection. Further objects are to provide a covering for the joint insuch a limb that shall have the external appearance and contour of thatpart of the natural limb whose place it supplies, and which, whileserving as a cushion, shall connect and maintain the said members intheir normal position, and to have a balland-socket joint between thefoot and leg portions, which shall be covered, and the said membersconnected and maintained in their normal position, by the said cushion.Other objects are to produce such a joint between the foot and legi. 6.,an anklejoint-that the toe- 5 joint may be dispensed with withoutmaterially diminishing the naturalness of the action of the footmovement, and to produce a joint in which the members, while maintainedin a normal position, are capable of a movement in any direction fromthat position,,but which shall be limited in its movement in everydirection it may have. Finally, to provide certain details ofconstruction, hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which 5.5

Figure 1 represents a side elevation embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, acentral vertical section thereof, and Fig. 3 a transverse verticalsection on line :0 (r, Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the footportion of my device, preferably composed of wood, and having thecontour of a foot from the instep out. Back of the instep, and extendingrearwardly toward the heel from a shoulder, a, is an extension, B,preferably formed integral with the part A, and constituting the socketof the ball-and-socketjoint, having formed in the upper part thereof,and near the rear end, 7 a depression or socket, 1), into which seatsand works the ball end 0 of an extension, 0, projecting downwardly fromthe leg portion D, and made smaller than the said leg portion, in orderto form a shoulder, (1, above the anklejoint, between which and theshoulder a is confined a rubber covering, E, constituting a cushion, forthe purpose hereinafter described, cemented or otherwise rigidly securedat either end thereof to the faces of the shoulders a and d. This rubbercovering or cushion lies flush with the surface of the foot and leg, andis designed to have as near as possible the exact external appearanceand contour of the heel and that portion of the ankle and foot betweenthe shoulders a and d.

The leg portion D, as usual in artificial limbs of this character, ishollowed out, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2; but this hollowedportion does not extend quite down to the shoulder d, in order thatsufficient body and strength may be left in the lower portion of the legfor the attachment of a cord, E, connecting the leg with the foot. Thiscord is preferably rigidly secured at one end to the 5 foot portion in asuitable recess, 0, provided in the ball of the foot, and extendsrearwardly along the bottom of the extension 13, about the center of thewidth thereof, and upwardly behind or to the rear of extension 0, lyingroo countersunk in suitable grooves provided on the under and rear faceof said extensions.

The upper end of this cord passes through the solid portion of the legD, projecting into the hollow thereof, and has provided on this end ascrew-threaded tip, F, for reception of a nut, f, between which and theleg may be placed a rubber cushion or spring, in order to give a slightelasticity to the said cord E, which preferably has no elasticitywhatever, but which may, if desired, be formed of sufficiently elasticmaterial to give or stretch whenrequired. Asusual in artificial limbs,this cord is only employed for the purpose of limiting the forwardmovement of the leg and supporting the joint or connection between themembers, and more particularly in climbing stairs or like exercise, inwhich case the entire weight of the wearer is apt to be thrown upon thetoe and too severely strain the joint; but it is obvious that this cordmay be dispensed with, if desired, and the rubber cushion madesufficiently stiff to withstand all strains.

It will be seen, by reference to the drawings, that there is no rigidconnection between the foot and leg portions of my device in anydirection, nor is the movement of the parts confined to any particularline of action, for the rubber covering or cushion which is cemented orotherwise rigidly secured at both ends, respectively, to the saidmembers, permits the free action of the ball-and-socket joint betweenthe members in any direction, although it is found preferable, as willbe seen by reference to Fig. 3, to form the working-surfaces of the balland socket fiat or plane, in order to'relieve the wearer of a constantstrain to prevent a lateral movement of the leg with relation to thefoot or a twisting of the foot portion out of line; but even should thisoccur, the action of the rubber cushion would cause the foot to regainits normal position immediately upon being relieved.

To reduce friction between the parts, the working or articulatingsurfaces of the ball and socket may be provided with a covering orfacing of a substance other than that of which the leg is composed-forinstance, one surface be provided with a brass facing and the other withrawhide, and this latter combination is of especial benefit in avoidingthe necessity for constant oiling of the joints and the disagreeablesqueaking noise common to artificial limbs as heretofore constructed.

In practice the rubber covering E not only acts as a cushion, but alsoserves to maintain in and return the parts to their normal position withrelation to each other when not under pressure.

In stepping forward the first result is to compress the rubber at theback or heel portion and stretch or bend the top or instep portion, inorder that the foot may rest flat or in a horizontal position upon theground',with theleg inclining to the rear, but as the leg swings to anda little beyond or forward of a vertical position in the act of walkingthe action of the rubber cushion will be exactly the reversethat is tosay, the instep {portion will be compressed and the back or heel portionstretched or bent; hence it will be observed that the degree ofexpansion and compression or the elasticity of the cushion is the onlymeans employed for limiting the movement of the parts other than thecord hereto fore described.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the cushion is a littlethicker at either side of the foot, in order to stiffen the jointagainst a lateral movement, which end is furthered by flattening thearticulating surfaces of the ball and socket, asbefore described, forvery slight lateral movement is needed between the parts; but, howeverslight, the movement should be provided for to permit the foot toaccommodate itself to the unevenness of the surface of the ground, andthus avoid unnecessary twisting of the leg.

By the employment of my devicenot only is' the toe-joint dispensed with,but any open joint between the foot and leg portion which would tend tobite and tear the shoe and stocking of the wearer is entirely avoided,and the foot made to fit and wear upon the shoe in exactly the samemanner as the natural foot.

Inconclusion, I may add that the covering or cushion before referred tomay be composed of rubber or any other suitable elastic material, andthe ball and socket may be reversed-that is to say, the socket may beformed on the leg portion and the ball on the foot portion.

I am aware that prior to my invention ankle-j oints have been made inartificial limbs permitting a lateral movement thereof, and I thereforedo not claim, broadly, this feature of my invention, nor do I limitmyself to the employment of my elastic cushion in connection with thejoint herein shown and described, for it is obvious that this cushion orcovering may be employed in connection with any form of j oint,whetherproviding for a lateral movement or not; hence I consider this featureof my invention as broadly new.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. In an artificial limb, the leg portion, the smaller extension thereofbelow the ankle, in combination with the foot portion, the smallerextension thereof back of the instep, a ball-andsocket joint betweensaid extensions, and the elastic cushion covering said joint andconnecting said foot and leg portions between the ankleand instep, andhaving the contour of that portion of the limb whose place it supplies,substantially as described. 2'. In an artificial limb, the foot and legportions, the smaller extensions thereof, and the shoulders formed bysaid extensions, in combination with a cushion secured to the faces of r30 .said shoulders and lying flush with the said leg and foot portionsbeyond the extensions thereof, substantially as described.

3. In an artificial limb, the foot and leg portions, the smallerextensions thereof, the ballspeetively at either end thereof to the footand and-socket joint between said extensions and leg portions,substantially as described.

the shoulders formed by said extensions in V combination with an elasticcushion secu red DANIEL BARTLETT to the faces of said shoulders andlying flush with the said leg and foot portions beyond the extensionsthereof, and a cord secured 're- 1 Witnesses:

J. H. CLENDENING, F. H. MILLS.

